The Benefits of God

“Our weekly article in the Northport Gazette and the West Alabama Gazette”.

Watering the Tulips

10/05/2011

“Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Selah” - Psalms 68:19

If you are a believer, do you not often find it strange that the world looks down so much on the children of God? Their attitude towards Christianity is that all followers of Jesus must give up all of the “fun things” in life. Surely, we can remember when we had such an outlook. However, on this side of the new birth, we see that the benefits of a child of God far outweigh those of the world.

Obviously, eternal blessings immediately come to mind. Without doubt, eternal bliss far outweighs suffering the pains of the Lake of Fire eternally. The end of the Christian life is as far away from the end of the unbeliever’s life as the East is from the West. However, the benefits don’t stop there.

Notice, our text verse says that the Lord “daily” supplies us with benefits. It’s difficult for us to consider the blessings that God gives us daily. The first breath of life each day is a blessing. The food we have to eat is a blessing. The clothes we wear are a blessing. Electricity, heating and cooling, the ability to read – all a blessing. Honestly, God has given us so many blessings that we really have a difficult time noticing the vast majority of them. So many things that we enjoy today are far from a need of life. In fact, billions have lived prosperous lives without many modern conveniences that we would never consider living without. Surely, our Heavenly Father “daily loads” us with benefits.

David surely hit the nail on the head when he said, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits” (Psalms 103:2). Each of us needs to take special care every day to remember that God is daily loading us with benefits. Even when problems are seemingly arising, we know full well that He is working everything to our benefit (Romans 8:28). Stop for just a moment and meditate on the many benefits that God has bestowed upon you already today. You may be surprised just how many blessings you have already enjoyed.

“What shall I render to the Lord For all His benefits toward me?” (Psalms 116:12). That’s a good question. Since He is the great Blesser, God blesses us. However, He is in need of nothing. What can we give Him? This is a simple answer – faithful service. We need to do the things He has commanded us to do. We need to pause daily and lift up words of praise and thanksgiving to Him. Surely, this ought not to be hard when we consider what He has done!

Child of God, take this day and mark out all of your benefits…if you can. Certainly, you have eternal blessings if Christ has paid your sins debt. However, you are enjoying many benefits of being a child of God right now. God is watching over you, protecting you, supplying your needs and even supplying many of your wants presently. Take a moment to thank Him for His goodness!

Watering the Tulips is brought to you by Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Northport, AL. For more information, please visit www.sovereigngrace.net. “Your app to the Gospel” is available for download in the iTunes app store and the Android market. Download it today.